One of the most critically acclaimed TV shows of the 2000s has just dropped onto Paramount Plus, along with its spin-off series. Can you guess what it frakkin' is yet?
Yes, we're talking about Battlestar Galactica, the hugely-acclaimed sci-fi saga that began as a miniseries in 2004 and then ran for four full seasons.
The show, a gritty reimagining of the 1978 original, begins on the planet Caprica, one of 12 human colonies in the far future. Humanity has existed in an uneasy truce with the Cylons – a race of intelligent robots built by mankind – for decades. The story begins with the Cylons breaking that truce in a truly apocalyptic fashion, forcing the human survivors to go on the run in a beaten up fleet of starships headed up by the titular Battlestar Galactica.
Battlestar Galactica was a huge success, winning critical acclaim for its blend of sci-fi action, grounded human drama, and willingness to go to places that few genre shows had been before. Fans of Game of Thrones will see a lot of that show's boundary-pushing DNA in Galactica. In 2019 The New York Times named it one of the 20 Best TV Dramas Since The Sopranos – very high praise indeed.
All 76 episodes of the show are streaming now on Paramount Plus, as is The Plan, one of two TV movies connected to the show. Another TV movie, Razor, is mysteriously not included.
Also available is the show's short-lived prequel series, Caprica. This was an origin story for the Cylons and took place on the doomed planet of the title, some 58 years before Battlestar. Although the series only ran for one season of 19 episodes, and was nowhere near as well-received as its predecessor, it has some strong writing and performances and is worth seeking out if you've never seen it.
For more great streaming, check out our guides to the best Paramount Plus shows and the best Paramount Plus movies.
